So Near Yet So Far

So Near Yet So Far invites readers to rethink our relationship with an open mind, stripped of smugness or ‘ideological agendas.’ Holly Doan, Blacklock's Reporter

Hale’s book is a useful commentary on the history of the bilateral relationship, and an often insightful analysis of recent and current issues…overall, an informative study of an important relationship. G.A. McBeath, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Choice, Vol 50, No 6

Hale has…composed a thorough assessment of what he calls: ‘the three dimensions of Canada–U.S. Relations’; the political and procedural elements of the relationship; and a detailed examination of four policy fields. Highly recommended. Inside Queen’s Park Newsletter, For Your Bookshelf

Geoffrey Hale’s So Near Yet So Far offers an original look at the public and behind-the-scenes work of Canada-US relations, but it’s probably not a pool-side read for a holiday vacation. Hale’s informative work reads more like a textbook, suited for the trade, foreign policy, and energy and resource buffs…[it] is a thoughtfully-organized read, using short chapters, concise lists and tightly-written conclusions to drive Hale’s points home. Michelle Zilio, iPolitics

His research is comprehensive and his understanding of both countries impressive, his drafting crystalline and at times engagingly witty…he addresses with great sophistication, and amusingly, the political-strategic, trade-commercial and the psychological cultural dimensions of a relationship that has always risked inspiring fear and loathing in Canada and indifference and neglect in the United States…he is excellent on the challenges Canada faces in engaging key U.S. actors, including the administration of the day and Congress, and the instruments Canada has developed to promote its interests in the United States…Hale’s is a ‘must read’ for any new provincial premier in Canada (and relevant political and bureaucratic colleagues). David Malone, Literary Review of Canada

Outstanding in virtually every respect, So Near Yet So Far promises to become a mainstream text in the areas of Canada–US relations, Canadian foreign policy, and comparative Canada–US political institutions. It will also be a respected source among scholars interested in doing further research in these areas. Clear and very well written, this is a scholarly book that reads. Charles Doran, author of Why Canadian Unity Matters and Why Americans Care: Democratic Pluralism at Risk

So Near Yet So Far is both comprehensive and detailed … the concluding chapter is an excellent finale to a book which is so strong on analysis ... a marvelously researched work, based on a most impressive number of interviews. It represents an excellent manual or handbook for any scholar or practitioner desirous of working the Canada–US relationship. Michael Kergin, Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States

So Near Yet So Far provides an original and perceptive analysis of the frequently commented on, yet superficially analyzed, Canada–US relationship. In a book that brims with insider insights, Geoffrey Hale argues that relations between the two countries are as much localized (provincial to state) as federalized. It sets a new standard for publication in this field. Ross Burkhart, co-author of Turmoil in American Public Policy: Science, Democracy, and the Environment

The American political system is tough for non-Americans to navigate, even for the millions of Canadians who live right next door. With So Near Yet So Far, Geoffrey Hale, one of our foremost experts on Canada–US relations, has produced a first-rate analysis of the successes and failures of recent Canadian diplomacy in the US. This book ought to be required reading for Canadian diplomats, indeed for any reader wondering why issues such as mad cow disease, softwood lumber, or border security seem like such intractable problems. Greg Anderson, co-editor of Forgotten Partnership Redux: Canada–U.S. Relations in the 21st Century